In the list given, the first point at which you could distinguish between a mitosis and a meiosis would be :

Options

A. Telophase
B. Anaphase
C. Metaphase
D. Prophase

Answer

To distinguish between mitosis and meiosis, we need to analyze the stages of cell division, particularly focusing on the prophase stage.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Mitosis and Meiosis**:
- Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, while meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that produces four genetically diverse gametes.

2. **Examining Prophase**:
- Prophase is the first stage of both mitosis and meiosis. However, the characteristics of prophase differ significantly between the two processes.

3. **Prophase in Mitosis**:
- In mitosis, prophase is relatively short and involves the condensation of chromatin into visible chromosomes. The nuclear envelope begins to break down, and the mitotic spindle starts to form.

4. **Prophase in Meiosis**:
- In meiosis, particularly in Meiosis I, prophase is much longer and more complex. It is divided into five sub-stages:
- **Leptotene**: Chromosomes begin to condense.
- **Zygotene**: Homologous chromosomes pair up (synapsis).
- **Pachytene**: Crossing over occurs, where genetic material is exchanged between homologous chromosomes.
- **Diplotene**: Homologous chromosomes begin to separate but remain attached at chiasmata.
- **Diakinesis**: The final stage where chromosomes condense further and the nuclear envelope breaks down.

5. **Key Differences**:
- The key distinguishing feature is the presence of crossing over and the formation of tetrads (bivalent chromosomes) during prophase I of meiosis, which does not occur in mitosis.

6. **Conclusion**:
- The first point at which one can distinguish between mitosis and meiosis is during prophase, specifically in the differences observed in prophase I of meiosis compared to prophase of mitosis.

### Final Answer:
The first point at which you could distinguish between mitosis and meiosis is during prophase, particularly prophase I of meiosis.